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Cited by 55Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors StudyCholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Cholinergic synapses in the central nervous system: studies of the immunocytochemical localization of choline acetyltransferase

Houser, Carolyn R.·1990·Journal of Electron Microscopy Technique
DOI 10.1002/jemt.1060150103
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Abstract

Cholinergic synapses can be identified in immunocytochemical preparations by the use of monoclonal antibodies and specific antisera to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the synthesizing enzyme for acetylcholine (ACh) and a specific marker for cholinergic neurons. Electron microscopic studies demonstrate that the fibers and varicosities observed in light microscopic preparations of many brain regions are small-diameter unmyelinated axons and vesicle-containing boutons. The labeled boutons generally contain clear vesicles and one or more mitochondrial profiles. Many of these boutons form synaptic contacts, and the synapses are frequently of the symmetric type, displaying thin postsynaptic densities and relatively short contact zones. However, ChAT-labeled synapses with asymmetric junctions are also observed, and their frequency varies among different brain regions. Unlabeled dendritic shafts are the most common postsynaptic elements in virtually all regions examined although other neuronal elements, including dendritic spines and neuronal somata, also receive some cholinergic innervation. ChAT-labeled boutons form synaptic contacts with several different types of unlabeled neurons within the same brain region. Such findings are consistent with a generally diffuse pattern of cholinergic innervation in many parts of the central nervous system. Despite many similarities in the characteristics of ChAT-labeled synapses, there appears to be some heterogeneity in the cholinergic innervation within as well as among brain regions. Differences are observed in the sizes of ChAT-immunoreactive boutons, the types of synaptic contacts, and the predominant postsynaptic elements. Thus, the cholinergic system presents interesting challenges for future studies of the morphological organization and related function of cholinergic synapses.

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  • There is an anatomical mismatch between the sites of acetylcholine release and the location of cholinergic receptors.

    “There is an anatomical mismatch between the sites of ACh release (Houser, 1990; Wainer et al., 1984a; Wainer et al., 1984b) and the location of cholinergic receptors (Arroyo-Jimenez et al., 1999; Hill Jr. et al., 1993; Kawai et al., 2007).”

    From Acetylcholine as a Neuromodulator: Cholinergic Signaling Shapes Nervous System Function and Behavior (2012) · cites this paper as Houser, 1990

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Authors
Houser, C. R.
Affiliations
United States Department of Veterans Affairs (US)
Corresponding author
Houser, Carolyn R.
ORCID
Houser, Carolyn R.
Venue
Journal of Electron Microscopy Technique
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1990-05
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
2-19
ISSN
  • 0741-0581 (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-0817
DOI
10.1002/jemt.1060150103
OpenAlex
W1968506805
Cited by
55
References
92
Citations by year
2022: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
FWCI
0.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 5393 d)
Locations
  • Journal of Electron Microscopy Technique (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Epilepsy Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (5p01ns021908-10)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-21908)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Keywords
cholinergic synapses, choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholine, cholinergic neurons, synaptic ultrastructure, postsynaptic density, synaptic boutons, cholinergic innervation, central nervous system, synaptic heterogeneity, dendritic innervation
MeSH terms
Animals, Central Nervous System, Cerebral Cortex, Choline O-Acetyltransferase, Cholinergic Fibers, Corpus Striatum, Hippocampus, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Microscopy, Electron, Spinal Cord, Synapses, Thalamus

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